Butane Hash Oil (BHO)

Language is an important part of communication. Without it, how would we know what each other is trying to say? We all have use words that have different meanings. If you ask around, you’ll notice we call a lot of things by different labels. How can we keep up with all these names? Well not to make things a little more confusing, there is a new meaning for three old words: “Dabbing”, “Blasting”, and “Oil Rig”. No, none of them have anything to do with big Oil industries, but if they did, we would have some serious problems to worry about.

The activity of consuming Butane Hash Oil (BHO), the substance that can be extracted from a marijuana plant, is known as “Dabbing,” The method allows a user to ingest a strong dose of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) by spraying butane through a tube packed with dried cannabis, a process known as “Blasting. Finally, it’s placed on a heated surface in a specialized glass bong, called a “Rig” so that a lighter or blowtorch can be used to heat it up to produce a vapor that the user can inhale and almost instantly feel the effects.

Basically, it’s created by breaking down the cannabis trichomes and removing the concentrated THC, also often referred to as “concentrate”. What’s left over is a golden brown honey-like compound that’s used for dabbing. This method is becoming a more favorable way of using marijuana by young people across the U.S. because it’s more powerful. Just one puff can be five times stronger when compared to taking one hit off a marijuana cigarette. It has a potency that can exceed 80% THC content. Some names for BHO products include:

710 (spells “Oil” upside down)

Amber Glass

Budder

Butane Honey Oil

Concentrate

Dabs

Ear Wax

Hash Oil

Honey Oil

Moon Rocks

Oil

Shatter

Wax

Weed Oil

Although smoking (or “vaping” as some might call it) isn’t the only way a user can consume BHO. This drug has been known to be served a hard candy and distributed at some parties. Manufacturers will cover it with sugar, sweeteners, and other flavorings to make it more desirable. On average, you can see anywhere from 10 to 50mg of THC per piece of candy. Needless to say, you can understand why it’s quickly grown as a favorite among the party crowd.

Those who have the ability to produce a large amount of BHO could very well have it within less than 24 hours, where normally taking weeks to properly prepare Marijuana buds. The THC levels within the cannabis plant can range from 15% to 25% depending on the buds. Although that drastically changes if you extract enough oil, you can increase those levels up to 85%. It takes just over an ounce of Marijuana to make up to six grams of Butane Hash Oil.

I know that six grams may not sound like much. So to put into perspective, five pounds of Marijuana can equal to about 140 grams of BHO. So let’s just say that if you were to monetize the product, it would make a world of difference to a drug dealer. Therefore, they might set up a make-shift lab in their house, a shed, or some abandoned building somewhere in the area and set up a distribution shop. The only thing left is for them to find users willing to pay at least $25 per gram. Of course, the average price would depend on the purity and strain of the cannabis plant.

However, like all illegally manufactured drugs, this doesn’t come with a warning. It’s a delicate process that is very dangerous. We’re talking about dwellings blowing up and people get injured because most armature manufacturers don’t realize that it takes just a spark inside a room to ignite the butane vapors in the air, which can cause an explosion. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reported that there are increasing incidents of explosions across the country caused by attempts of manufacturing this drug. Explosions from BHO production have blown walls out, moved houses off foundations, and caused people severe burns.

There are a couple of ways dealers try to create Butane Hash Oil. One way is called “Open” while the other is called “Closed.”

The “Open” method involves the user to stuff a steel tube with marijuana and then spraying inside the tube with butane, stripping away the Trichomes (THC) from the plant. Afterward, the butane boils off at room temperature. Finally what comes trickling out is thick, yellowish orange oil onto a metallic container. This method has a high risk of causing serious injury.

The “Closed” method (safer process) uses a butane oil extractor, a machine to produce aromatics, infusions, and tinctures. It’s also used to perform oil extraction from botanical herbs. Buying one of these devices can cost up into the thousands of dollars. That’s why more abusers prefer to do the “open” method.

Professional BHO manufacturers use the closed method system because it prevents butane fumes from escaping into the air. I’m sure you would have no problem finding a professional after doing a simple online search since there is a growing demand for BHO. Obviously, there are people who make it (illegally) without all the machinery and safety you get in a legit setting. But why risk it? I guess it all depends on which side of the fence you’re on. For users, hash oil offers a quick and lasting high. For sellers, it is easy to make and offers large profits.

In the “Sunshine State” of California, there have been some problems. One official from the Sherriff’s Department in San Diego County said there is evidence to suggest that drug cartels may be moving into the hash-oil business because it’s very profitable at $40 to $80 a gram. Despite the fact it’s illegal to extract the hash oil from marijuana, it may still be legal to sell the oil on a retail basis under the state’s current medicinal marijuana law (a.k.a. SB 420 – yeah, no kidding). However, the state Senate recently approved new legislation that will target BHO and Methamphetamine manufacturing in the state, known as SB 212, that will fill in that loophole.

It’s also been reported that the number of hash oil explosions in Oregon is on the rise causing emergency personnel to worry about what would happen after marijuana becomes legal later this year. In the past 24 months, it’s been reported that at least 17 people were sent to the Burn Unit with some serious injuries and one person actually lost his life as a result in Portland, Oregon. Even though Oregon voted to approve recreational marijuana, it’s still a felony to make hash oil under Measure 91, also known as the Control, Regulation, and Taxation of Marijuana and Industrial Hemp Act.

Even in Colorado where it’s allowed for adults over the age of 21 to consume recreational marijuana, there have been reports of home-based laboratories that have been exploding. This is obviously an extreme way to learn about the risks of trying to make homemade hash oil. Unfortunately, those manufacturers and users would rather risk it all than to kick the addiction. It’s becoming a public safety concern each time something like this happens. Officials have said that these home-based laboratories are not covered under the measure approved by voters back in 2012, known as Amendment 64.

It seems that no matter what side of the line you are on, either for the legalization of Marijuana or against it, somehow, someone will make the effects available in one form or another. Not caring of the risks, the damage that the drug can do (both bodily and property), or that it can put you in jail for a while, some people are going to do all they can to get that high feeling. If anything you can take away from this, it’s that drugs are dangerous, even if you don’t necessarily agree with the laws of the land that ban a certain drug, eventually the laws of nature or physics will catch up to you.

THC is still not acceptable by many businesses and organizations, even in states that legalized it for personal consumption. There are some in the workplace that will cross the line while on the job and get high during one of their breaks before returning back to work. That could cause problems, including injuries, for the rest of the employees. The good news is that this method of marijuana consumption can be tested for using one of our THC kits offered on our website. We offer many Marijuana test kits using your choice in method detection including urine, saliva, and hair follicles.You can call (888) 404-0020 to speak with one of our friendly knowledgeable sales consultants weekdays from 8 am to 4 pm or send an email to sales@rapiddetect.com anytime.